What were the challenges faced by …

The Democratic Republic of Vietnam was formed with Ho Chi Minh as its head. However, from the very beginning, this republic faced many challenges.

The French sought to regain control over Vietnam by propping up a puppet regime with Emperor Bao Dai at its helm. They also launched an offensive against the Vietminh and forced them to retreat into the hills. However, after fighting a bitter battle for eight years, the French were defeated at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. Despite their superior military, the French faced a comprehensive defeat.
Despite the victory over the French, the Vietnamese were forced to agree to a division of their country at the Geneva peace negotiations. While Ho Chi Minh and the communists controlled North Vietnam, South Vietnam was controlled by the Bao Dai regime.
Soon, Ngo Dinh Diem overthrew the South Vietnamese regime and unleashed a series of unjust policies on the South Vietnamese. Any sort of political dissent was blamed to be communist and was repressed brutally. The French law Ordinance 10 was retained by Ngo Dinh Diem which permitted Christianity in Vietnam but outlawed Buddhism. The National Liberation Front formed an alliance with the Ho Chi Minh regime in the north and fought to overthrow Ngo Dinh Diem and unite Vietnam.
Even though these developments were an integral part of Vietnam’s internal politics, the USA; in pursuance of its containment policy, sought to intervene. It sent troops and arms in order to counterbalance the northern Communist regime.